Special Olympics Massachusetts Comes to Milton

By Harris Felix ‘27

On Sunday, May 18, the Milton Academy Track and Stokinger Field were alive with competition and compassion, not for a high school meet but for a Special Olympics track and field event, a qualifier for the Massachusetts Summer Games. The weather was ideal for this annual event, a staple of Milton’s Community Engagement Programs and Partnerships (CEPP). The competition brought together hundreds of athletes from sixteen teams across Greater Boston to compete. Dozens of Milton Academy students volunteered alongside peers from Fontbonne Academy and a youth group from Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Sharon.

According to its mission statement, Special Olympics aims to provide “year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.” This competition gives these athletes “continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.”

A global organization, Special Olympics has over five million athletes aided by almost one million coaches and volunteers representing more than 100 countries.

For over twenty-five years, Milton has provided a venue for this track event as well as the Special Olympics Basketball Competition in the winter. In addition, the school also hosts the Milton Special Olympics Basketball Team, the “Mustangs,” for weekly training. Ms. Geyling-Moore, Milton’s Community Engagement Coordinator, described this event in particular as a “great opportunity to connect with our broader neighborhood, not only with the athletes themselves but also with the other student volunteer groups.” Geyling-Moore adds that students also connect with“the local Masons group who organized parking in the morning, and the local Fire and Police departments who led the opening ceremony and distributed awards to the athletes. She said it was a large event, and because many people chip in, it went smoothly.

Rhia Patel ‘26 and Anh Tran-Nguyen ‘26, the two coheads of the CEPP board, echoed Geyling-Moore’s statement, describing the event as another great way to open Milton up to the broader community. Patel also noted the purpose of the event was to“celebrate these track athletes who have been preparing all season long” in “ a fun and wholesome event.” The co-heads described the event as an effort of the entire CEPP board, with members promoting the event and encouraging students to volunteer. On the day of the event, they set up the venue. Different members were delegated to areas such as the food tent, registration, or the awards ceremony.

The Opening Ceremony at 9:00 am was led by a procession of the local first responders, who hoisted the Special Olympics torch. After Tobias Kim ‘27 sang the national anthem, an athlete performed an uplifting song with lyrics such as “You can run, you can jump, you can soar. You can swim, you can dance, so much more” and the chorus, “What’s so special ‘bout Special Olympics? It’s where we really feel loved.” Patel also mentioned how the family of an athlete who passed away ran an ice cream stand to raise funds. Then the track events began with the 3000m and 1500m before moving to shorter races like the 100m and 200m. There were classic run versions, walks, and guided versions to ensure everyone was included. The ages of the athletes ranged all the way from six years old to older adults.

Ben Wang ‘27, a volunteer who has also assisted with the weekly Milton team training since his freshman year, mentioned how the athletes are so “resilient and optimistic toward the world,” and he recognized the importance of a culminating event like this. He explained his experience as a volunteer: organizing athletes with the paper heat sheets, attaching lane numbers, and guiding the athletes from place to place. Other volunteers timed the races and organized the distribution of awards. In the afternoon, the competition moved from track events to field events, including throwing. Wang noted how he “respects and enjoys how the event is run,” and that “every athlete receives a medal or at least a chance to stand on the podium.” Ethan Tsang ‘27, another volunteer, noted, “Although it was a bit chaotic, I really enjoyed the experience as every one of the athletes looked happy and excited to be there.”

While built to recognize as many winning athletes as possible, this Special Olympics event hosted at Milton was also a qualifier for one of the state’s seven regions. Some of the athletes will go on to compete at the Massachusetts Summer Games, which will be held at Harvard University’s athletic complex throughout the month of June.

Geyling-Moore said some of her particular favorites were seeing volunteers cheering loudly for the athletes and celebrating with them at the finish line. Emlyn Joseph ‘27, a member of the CEPP board, added that “everything went smoothly and the vibrance of competition and compassion was visible across the track.” Similarly, Milton team Head Coach ZsaKiara Boggs noted that the highlight of the day for her was “seeing [her] athletes’ beaming with pride after receiving a medal.” In future events Special Olympics will continue to emphasize the importance of striving for the inclusion of everyone, especially those with intellectual disabilities.